Selective quantity metering dispenser for granular material



May 14, 1957 H. J. BELLARDI 2,792,155

SELECTIVE QUANTITY METERING DISPENSER FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL FiledOCC. l0, 1955 2%22660/l 129 l W2 "'Wlllllllilili v .INVENTOR Huso J. BE R0] SELECTIVE QUANTITY METERING DISPENSER. FR GRANULAR MATERIAL Hugo J. Bellardi, San Jose, Caiif. Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,429 7 Claims. (Cl. Z22- 266) The present invention relates to dispensersy and pertains more particularly to a dispenser for selectively dispensing different metered quantities for iluent granular materials such as salt and sugar.

In cooking, whether in the home or in a restaurant, it frequently is necessary to measure out quantities of granular material such as salt or sugar into the ingredients being prepared for cooking. The recipes frequently call for varying small quantities ofthe material, such4 as Ms teaspoon of salt, one or more teaspoonfuls of sugar, and the like.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a multiple-quantity metering device for granular material such as salt and sugar.

The invention also provides a simple easily` cleaned dispenser for metering selected quantities of` granular -material, which dispenser is simple to manufacture, is compact, and may be readily lled, used and cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved multi-quantity metering dispenser forgranular material.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the-following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical, medial, sectional view through. a metering dispenser. embodying? the invention takeny along line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of they dispenser taken along line 2 2 of Fig, l-. Y Y

Fig.. 3 is a perspective viewv of` one of the metering plungers as it appears when removed from the container;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary, perspective View of the' upper portion ofthefdevice shown in Figs. 1 an'd 2.

Referring to the'drawings in detail, an 'integrally Ymolded container unit A comprises an outer yshellportion 10 of octagonal, cross `sectional shape which preferably is molded of strong, shock resistant plasticmaterial. Since many plast-ic materials suitable for this. purpose are well known to those skilled in the art of plastics moulding they willv not be enumerated herein. A plurality, i'n the present instance four, plunger housings 11, 12, 13, and 14 are formed inwardly of alternate inner wall faces of the outer shell 10. All of the plunger housings preferably are of similar inner cross-sectional size and shape.

An opening 15 is provided-at a lowv point in the inner wall of each plunger housing forfallowing granular- Inaterial to ilow by gravity from the storage compartment 17 provided by the octag'onal outer' shell 1'0vv exteriorl'y of the plunger'liousings, into the plunger housings. These openings 15 `all are located at vthe same lheight from the lower end of the' outer shell 10.

A pyramidal bottom shield 18, which may be formed integrally with the ou'ter shell 10 and the plunger housings 11,.12, 13 and 14 has its-base plane 19 (Fig. 1)"V coincident with the lower edges of the openings 15 inl the plunger housings. From Vthe lower outer edges of the Patented May re, 1957 plunger housings, bottom plate portions 20 are formed tslpfupwardly and outwardly toward the walls of the outer shell 10. The pyramidal shield 18 and these oppositelysloping outer plate portions 20 thus provide a sealed bottom closure for the storage compartment 17. The oppositely sloping top surfaces of the pyramidal shield 18and of the outer bottom plate portions 20 cause the granular material in the storage compartment 17 to gravitate to the level of the lower edges 21 of the openings 15. A cover-anchoring and spring-support rod 22 is formed integrally with the apex of the pyramidal bottom shield I8,` and extends upwardly therefrom coaxially of the storage chamber 17.

A pair of plunger biasing spring strips 23' and 24 (Figs. l and 2) are crossed centrally thereof at the upper' end of 4the vvertical center rod 22, and are' secured thereto by a screw`25 which passes through central openings provided therefor inthe spring strips 23 and 24 and also through a central opening in a bridge 27 formed integrally with' a cover member 28v for the outer shell 10.' The bridge 27 is offset Vdownwardly toward its center as best shown in Fig.: 1, to provide clearance on both sides thereof for filling the storage compartment 17 through a central threaded fillerY opening 29 in-the cover. A detent 26 is formed atV a desired point inthe upper edge of they outer shell 10, and a ,coverl locating bead 26a is provided on theL under side of the cover to fit therein to locate the cover in a desired position onthe shell.

The filler- Opening 29 is closed by'a threaded cap 30 which screws into the threadedller opening 29.

The' outer ends of the spring strips`23v and V24 are bifurcated as at 31 (Figs. l and 2) and each'iits into a groove 32 provided' therefor in a rod-like extension 33 provided coaxially of the upper end of each of four meteringplungers 34, 35, 36 and 37 fitted for slidable movement inv the plunger' housings 11, 12, 13 Vand 14, respectively. It will be noted in Figs. l and 2 that the topsurfaces of the plungers a're sloped toward the center of the device so that anyV of the granular material entering the plunger housings above theplungers therein will tend to gravitate 'backinto the storage compartmentV through notches 36 irl-which the spring strips 23' and 24 ride upon vertical movement of their plungers.

- The-plunger rods 33 are slidably inserted through holes 40 -provided therefor in the cover 28. A removable, buttonhead'cap 41', having a threadedl shank portion 42 thereon visfthreadedly mounted co-ax'ially on the upper end of each plunger rod 31. Imprinted on each cap 41 is indicia 44 (Fig. 4) designating the quantity of granular material whichy will be discharged upon pressing the cap down to itsffully; depressed condition as shown at the left of Fig. l.

Each metering plunger has a metering cavity 45 formed inits inner face near its lower end. In the upward limit of movementA of the plunger, where it is normally held by the' biasv of its spring strip 23 or 24 as shown at the right .of Fig. l, the upper edge of the metering cavity 45 registers with the upper edge of the opening 15 of the plunger housing in which the plunger is mounted.

The granular, fluent material in the storage compartment' 17 therefore flows'by gravity into the plunger cavitiesr'when their respectiveplungers are in their normal,

` upward limit of movement as shown at the right'gof'Fig.

sides of thepyramidal shield 18 which do notl intersectthe 1 to completely fill these cavities. In the upwardlybiased condition oftheplungers,`the lower ends of the metering cavities therein are closed by plunger housingwall por tions47 (Fig. l) below the openings 15 as shown in Fig. l., Wall portions 47 are ofthe same height as the meteringcavities 45 in the plungers, so as to insure that no material. will be bypassed through the cavity byv opening its lower endf before its upper end isv cut off` from the supplf'yin th'e storage compartment 17.

When Aa plunger'is depressed to the-position shown at the left of Fig. 1, Vthe inner face 42 oftheplunger above the cavity therein seals off the opening 15 into the storage compartment 17, and the metering cavity 45 is exposed below the lower edge of the wall portion 47, thereby freeing the metered quantity of material in the cavity for gravity discharge therefrom through a discharge opening 48 provided in the lower end of 'each plunger housing.

The required difference in size of the plunger cavities 45 may be attained by reducing a transverse dimension of the smaller metering cavities, since it is desirable that all of these cavities be of the same height. In Fig. l it each-of said openings into the plunger housing in which such opening is provided, a metering plunger iitted for slidable movement in each plunger compartment, means biasing each plunger to a normal upward condition in its compartment, each plunger covering said recess and extending upwardly therefrom a distance equal to the length of plunger movement in its housing, a metering recess of predetermined size in a side of each plunger, each recess being located in its plunger to register with the opening in its plunger housing in the normal upwardly biased condition of the plunger, means limiting the downward movement of each plunger, the plunger housing extending will be noted that the cavity 40a in the left hand plunger I is shallower than the cavity 40b in the right handplunger.

Operation of the device is as follows: Assume that the dispenser A is assembled as'shown in Fig. l, with the cover 2S secured in placerbythe'screw 25 which also secures the two spring'strips 23 land 2 4 onto the upper end of the central anchor rod 22,'r`and the bifurcated outer ends 31 of thev springstrips inserted in the grooves 32 in the rod extensions'33 on the metering plungers to normally bias the plungers toward-their upllasermost condition as shown at the right hand side of ig. l.

The central storage compartment 17 then may be lled with the desired granular material, such as salt-orsugar,

downwardly from the discharge opening therein a distance equal to the height of the plunger cavity adjacent thereto, thereby to seal off the plunger cavity when the plunger is moved initially downwardly to trap a metered 4 quantity of material in the recess, the plunger movement by unscrewing the ller cap to expose the filler opening 29. After tilling the central compartment 17,'the ller cap 30 is replaced by screwing it into the threaded filler opening.

The granular material'with which the central compartment is lled gravitates through the openings 15 in the plunger housings and lls the different sized metering i cavities 45 in the four plungers. The device is then ready for use. i

Upon depressing a desired one of the plunger actuating button caps 41 the plunger upon which it is mounted,

for example the plunger 34, the lled metering cavity 45 therein is carried downwardly past its opening 15, thereby sealing olf the plunger cavity 45 in this plunger from the storage compartment 17. Then, upon being carried downwardly to its lowermost position as shown at the lefthand sideof Fig. l, the lower end of the plunger cavity 45 clears the wall portion 47, whereupon the contents of the cavity 45 gravitate out through the bottom opening 48 and thence through the open bottom of the container. Upon releasing the button cap 41, the spring strip 23 or V24, as the case may be, returns the plunger to itsuppermost condition, whereupon material from the' central compartment 17 again gravitates throughthe opening 15 to till the cavity and place it in condition for re-use when required. o

The device comprises a simple device for containing and accurately metering selected quantities of salt, sugar or other fluent granular material Yby depressing ai-selected, marked button cap 41 associated with a plunger having 'the desired size of metering cavity therein.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred'embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

nHaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

` I claim:

l. A metering dispenser for fluent granular material comprising a tubular outer shell, a bottom wall forming, with the shell, a storage compartment, a plurality of upright plunger housings within the storage compartment, each plunger housing Vextending through the bottomwall and having an opening therein directly 'above the bottom wall communicating with'a lower portion of the interior of the storage` compartmentfor,gravity/How of fluent 'materialfrom the storagev compartment through being of a length to thereafter carry the cavity therein below its housing wall, whereby the trapped contents of the cavity gravitate from the cavity exteriorly of the storage compartment.

, 2. A metering dispenser for uent granular material comprising a storage compartment, a plurality of upright plunger housings within the storage compartment and extending through and below the bottom thereof, each plunger housing having an opening in a side thereof communicating with a lower portion of the interior of theV storage compartment for gravity ow of fluent material from the storage compartment through said openings, a metering plunger fitted for slidable movement in each plunger housing, means biasing each plunger to a normal upward condition in its compartment, a metering recess of predetermined size in the inner face of each plunger, each recess registering with the opening in its plunger housing in the normal upwardly biased condition of the plunger, each plunger housing extending below the side opening therein a distance equal to the height of the recess in its associated plunger, thereby to trap a metered quantity of material in such recess, means limiting the downward movement of each plunger, each plunger being movable downwardly a distance suicient to carry the cavity therein below a wall of the plunger housing, whereby the metered contents of the cavity are released to gravitate therefrom exteriorly of the storage compartment.

3. A metering dispenser for fluent granular material comprising a cup-shaped compartment, a center rod secured to the bottom of the compartment and extending upwardly centrally of the compartment, a cover closing oil the upper vend of the compartment Vand secured to the upper end of the center rod, a filler cap removably closing a lleropening in the cover, a plurality of upright plunger housingswithin the storage compartment, each plunger housing Aextending through the bottom of the compartment andv having an opening in a side thereof above the bottom lof the compartment openly communicating withla lower portion of the interior of the compartment for gravity flow of the contents of the storage compartment through such opening, a metering plunger fitted for slidable movement in each plunger compartment, spring strips interposed between the cover and the upper end of the center rod biasing each plunger to -a normal upward condition in its compartment, a meteringrrecess of predetermined size in a face of each plunger, each recess registering with the opening in its plunger housing in the normal upwardly biased condition of the plunger, each plunger housing extending below the opening in its side a sufcient distance to seal ol the recess in its associated plunger and thereby trap the metered quantity of iluent material from the compartment in such recess, and an extension on each plunger extendingthrough a hole in the cover and movable downwardly with'` its plunger a distance sufiicient to carry the cavity inthe, plunger clear of a lower edge of the plunger housing, whereby the metered contents, ofthe cavity-gravitate Ithrtlfror'rexteriorly of the compartment.

4. A selective, multiple quantity metering dispenser for fluent granular material comprising a tubular outer shell, a plurality of plunger housings formed lengthwise on the inner side of the outer shell, each of said housings being open at its lower end and having an opening in a side thereof spaced upwardly from the lower end of the housing, a bottom partition disposed transversely of the outer shell and sealed to the outer shell and to the plunger housings directly below said openings therein to form a compartment for fluent material, a metering plunger mounted for slidable movement in each plunger housing, means resiliently supporting the plungers in predetermined raised positions in their housings, each plunger having a metering cavity in a side thereof located in the raised condition of the plunger in register with the opening in its plunger wall to admit a metered quantity of granular material from the central compartment by gravity ow into the cavity, all of said cavities being of the same height, but being of different transverse areas to vary the volume of each of the cavities relative to the others, a wall portion on each housing below the opening therein of a height equal to the vertical height of the cavities, and a plunger actuating rod secured to each plunger and extending exteriorly of the container for manually depressing its plunger to lower the cavity in the plunger below the lower wall portion, whereby the cavity is initially sealed by the wall portion below the side opening therein to trap a metered quantity of material in such cavity, and is thereafter carried below the lower end of its plunger housing to release the contents of the cavity for gravity discharge exteriorly of the compartment.

5. A selective, multiple quantity metering dispenser for fluent granular material comprising a container consisting of an outer shell and a raised bottom, a plurality of upright plunger housings within said container, each of said housings extending through the container bottom and having an opening therein above the container bottom communicating with a lower portion of the interior of the container, a metering plunger mounted for slidable movement in each plunger housing, flat spring means secured to the container and in yoked engagement With each plunger, thereby resiliently supporting the plungers in predetermined raised positions in their housings, each plunger having a metering cavity therein located, in the raised condition of its plunger, in register with the opening in its plunger wall to admit granular material from the central compartment by gravity iiow into the cavity, all of said cavities being of the same height, but being of diierent transverse areas to vary the volume of each of the cavities relative to the others, a wall portion on each housing below the opening therein of a height equal to the vertical height of the cavity in the plunger therein to trap a metered quantity of material in such cavity, and a plunger actuating rod operably engaging each plunger and extending exteriorly of the container for manually depressing its plunger to lower the cavity in the plunger below the lower wall portion, and below the bottom of the container, whereby the uent granular material trapped in the cavity is released for gravity discharge externally of the container.

6. A metering dispenser for fluent granular material comprising a tubular outer shell, a plurality of tubular plunger housings on the inner face of the outer shell, a conical bottom closure deflector closing ott the container inwardly of the plunger housings, sealing members cotermina! with the bottom deflector and sloping oppositely thereto and closing off the spaces between the plunger housings, each plunger housing having an opening therein directly above the bottom closure deliector, a metering plunger tted for slidable movement in each plunger housing, a cover plate closing the top of the outer shell and having a ller opening therein, a cover anchor rod extending co-axially upwardly from the center of the conic bottom closure deector, a pair of crossed leaf springs interposed between the cover and the top of the rod, the outer end of each spring having operative engagement with a plunger and urging the latter upwardly in its housing, and releasable fastening means securing the cover to the rod and binding the spring therebetween.

7. A metering dispenser for uent granular material comprising a tubular outer shell, a plurality of tubular plunger housings within the outer shell, a bottom closure member spaced upwardly from the lower end of the shell, each plunger housing having one opening therein directly above the bottom closure member and having a second opening at its lower end, a metering plunger fitted for slidable movement in each plunger housing, a cover plate closing the top of the outer shell and having a filler opening therein, said cover having an opening therein aligned with each plunger housing, a cover anchor rod extending co-axially upwardly from the center of the bottom closure member, a pair of crossed leaf springs interposed between the cover and the top of the rod, the outer end of each spring having operative engagement with a plunger and urging the latter upwardly in its housing, each plunger having a metering cavity in register with the plunger housing opening in the upward position of the plunger, releasable fastening means securing the cover to the rod and binding the springs therebetween, and an extension on each plunger slidably fitted into each aligned cover opening and extending above the cover a distance sutcient to move the plunger thereon downwardly to carry the cavity therein into the second opening in the plunger housing whereby the contents of the cavity are free to gravitate therefrom.

Bigelow Apr. 6, 1858 Van Ame Feb. 2, 1897 

